Immunological relationship between acetylcholine receptor and thymus: a possible significance in myasthenia gravis.
1975; National Academy of Sciences; Volume: 72; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1073/pnas.72.4.1456
ISSN1091-6490
AutoresAharon Aharonov, R Tarrab-Hazdai, Oded Abramsky, Sara Fuchs,
Tópico(s)Myasthenia Gravis and Thymoma
ResumoA defined immunological cross-reaction was observed between acetylcholine receptor fraction from the electric eel, Electrophorus electricus, and two calf thymus fractions. The cross-reaction was demonstrated on the cellular level by means of the lymphocyte transformation technique, and on the humoral level, by means of the microcomplement fixation assay. In the human disease myasthenia gravis both acetylcholine receptor at the neuromuscular junction and the thymus are affected, probably by an autoimmune mechanism. The immunological cross-reaction between acetylcholine receptor and thymic components may explain the association between endplate and thymus disorders in myasthenia gravis.
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